Foreign Language Network

*Foreign Language Network* The Foreign Language Network has been implementing foreign language programs in preschools, elementary schools, middle schools and park districts throughtout Chicago and the suburbs since 1997. In 2005, we opened our own centers in Crystal Lake and Geneva, Ilinois. Opening our own language centers has allowed us to better serve the community by being able to offer more languages, extensive preschool programs, evening and weekend classes, and classes for adults. Click here for Center Locations and Class Schedules Programs for Children Our language classes for children are immersion based. Our teaching method consists of games, songs, puppet shows, role playing and hands-on activities. Our natural approach to teaching a second language makes learning fun! Curriculum We have developed our own “theme based” curriculum in which students learn vocabulary and other language skills related to a particular subject matter. For every session that a child is enrolled in our program, their vocabulary and conversational skills continue to grow and improve. We have chosen our themes based on State Board of Education guidelines and benchmarks. We have 42 sets of curriculum for children ages 1-14. Sample Themes for ages 1 - 4: Old MacDonald, The Zoo, My Family, The Hungry Caterpillar Sample Themes for Preschool - Grade 2: My House, The Beach, My Birthday Party, A Visit to the Doctor Sample Themes for Grades 3 - 5: My Favorite Activities, At School , Let's Take a Trip!, Let's Go Shopping Themes for Grades 6 - 8: "I Speak" Volumes 1-9 Student Materials Our student materials consist of theme-based workbooks, CD's, and grammar packets. The main purpose of our material is to bridge the gap between the classroom and home and to inform parents about what their child is learning. It is very important for children to be exposed to the language as much as possible! In addition to dialogues, our CD's consist of songs that feature the particular theme vocabulary, plus numbers, colors, days of the week, months of the year, greetings, and common phrases. Listening to our CD's makes the learning experience fun and effortless, which ultimately helps children retain the vocabulary they are learning in class. Our Students' Progress We have been providing language programs since 1993 and, therefore, have just recently had the opportunity to track our students from preschool to high school in order to determine the effectiveness of our program. We have found the following results: Students that participated in our program from Grades K-8 (a minimum of 150 hours) were most likely to pass out of Spanish I and be placed in Spanish II as freshman. Their peers that did not participate in a language program in elementary school typically struggled with foreign language and often needed tutoring. Students that participated in our program from Grades K-5 (a minimum of 60 hours) typically earned A's in their high school foreign language classes and found it to be one of their "easier" subjects. They also planned to include a foreign language as part of their college degree.
The Culture Club Language and Cultual Programs for Adoptive Children and their Families Native language classes for adopted children and their parents. Adopted children are given the opportunity to socialize and form ties with other adopted children from their home land. Pre-travel and on-going language classes for parents and other family members
More about Programs for Children Research on Language Learning Before and After-School Enrichment Programs In-Curriculum Programs Teachers & Teaching Methods Curriculum & Materials Private Instruction for Children & Families
Programs for Adults Private & Group Instruction Translation Services Interpreting Services
The Foreign Language Network Phone: (847) 426-6856 or (630) 377-8794 Email: info@foreignlanguagenetwork.com